ENUGU – Dr Bamidele Bamgbose, the National President, Radio, Televisions, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU), on Wednesday urged media workers to remain steadfast in their agitation for a media salary structure.
Bamgbose told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the leadership of the various unions of media organisations had taken the necessary steps to convince the government to implement better working conditions for practitioners.
He advised the government to implement better working conditions for practitioners now rather than wait until the unions embarked on strike in agitation for such conditions.
“I am not supporting any organisation going on a protracted strike action, but if it is an action that will be of benefit to your members then why don’t you go ahead if government is not willing to.
“But the fact of the matter is that in the media sector we are not ready to be where the leaders want us to be.
“But if followers are ready and they will be able to back up the leaders then I think the sky is not even the limit. [eap_ad_1] “We’ve presented our cases even before the Minister of Labour and I think very soon and I mean very soon you’ll hear from us. We’ll call you out.
“Then it’s left to you to support or to go and sit down.“
The RATTAWU president said that the leadership of the media unions had not lost sleep over the welfare of members.
He called on members to give the needed support to their various leaders as they made the final push to actualise the implementation of the media salary structure.
“We have been able to achieve something although it may be little and again we are not resting on our oars.
“You don’t take anything on a platter of gold in Nigeria; you have to struggle for it; so, if you don’t struggle for anything you may not be able to get it.
“Are the media workers, most especially those of us in the electronic and print, really ready to struggle for it in terms of supporting your unions when they call you out to protest or to fight for your rights?“
Bamgbose appealed to workers to stand for their rights instead of the thought that their jobs were sacrosanct that they would not agitate for living wages and better working conditions. (NAN)
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